A Superb Large Old Marble Stone Buddha Shan State Burma Myanmar 18th Century

A Superb Large Old  Marble Buddha  Shan State Burma Myanmar 18th Century with traces of lacquer and gold paint.

This beautifully carved stone Buddha from Burma is dressed in relatively simple monastic robes, defying his princely status. He sits cross-legged on an ornate platform, in bhumisparshamudra his left-hand rests palm upward on his lap and the right-hand rests over his right knee, calling the earth to witness the moment of the Buddha’s enlightenment.

The image focuses on the harmony and simplicity of the Buddha himself. His right hand is in the earth-touching position of calling it to witness his Enlightenment and his left-hand remains in the meditation position.

The Buddha sits in meditation with his left hand, palm upright, resting on his lap, and his right hand touching the earth. This represents the moment of the Buddha’s enlightenment. The moment recalls the incident when the demon king Mara sought to attack the historical Buddha with his demon army while the Buddha was meditating under the bodhi tree. But the Buddha refused to move. The demon king attempted to claim the seat of enlightenment for himself, claiming that his spiritual achievements were greater than the Buddhas. Mara’s soldiers cried out together, ‘I am his witness!’ Mara challenged the Buddha to say who would speak for him ? The Buddha reached out his right hand to touch the earth and declared that the earth itself would be his witness. Mara disappeared and the Buddha reached enlightenment.

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection of Buddhist & Asian Art

Exhibited and Published: The Art of Compassion: Buddhist Art from the Todd Barlin Collection 2018 Page 6

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